Guide for vertical files



April 16, 1 4.0- c. B. ULRICH GUIDE FOR-VERTICAL FILES Filed NOV. 29, 1937 INVENTOR C'HAQLES 5. (/4 ,Q/C'H.

/(WW G [3 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PAT NT- OFFICE GUIDE. FOR VERTICAL FILES Charles B. Ulrich, Jamestown, N. Y. Application November 29, 1937, Serial No.-177,040 8 Claims. (01. 129- 16) My invention relates to guides for vertical filing drawers and containers, and by it I'provide an improved guide structure and cooperating drawer or container construction for supporting said guides from their upper portions as distinguished from their bottom portions, to prevent the guides from sagging in use and dropping their upper edges even with or below the top portions of the filed matter, which frequently occurs with guide constructions heretofore used, to the annoyance and inconvenience of the user of the file. Where,-as has heretofore been the case, the guides are wholly supported in the file by the v resting of their bottom edge portions on the bottom of the filing drawer or container, and particularly where the filed contents are not evenly distributed between the guides, the filed contents tend to displace the upper portions of the guides from positions directly over-their lower portions,

120 the engagement between the lower edges of the guides and the drawer orcont'ainer holds the lower portions of;the guides against free movement with the freely movableupper portions of the'guides in separating the contents of the file 25 in using it and in efiecting redistribution of said contents which occurs from time to time, and the guides become inclined, curved or bentand their upper portions sag, and frequently to a 'degree making the markings carried by the guides difii- :30 cult to see, thereby seriously impairing the usefulness of the guides. v

By my invention I provide my improved guides with end extensions or members for supporting said guides wholly orin part; which extensions or members have supporting engagementwithbars carried by the filing drawer or: container, said extensions or members being sufiiciently above the bottom of the drawer or container so that their engagement with said bars, supports the {40 upper portions of said guides, particularly if there is any tendency for said-guides to assume inclined positions in use. In this manner, the upper portions of the guides aremaintained in-proper relation to each other and to the contents'of the file, 45 under any and all conditionsof use. 'My invention applies to plain guides of the kind referred to, andalso to compression guides comprising walls movable from each other-by expansion means between said walls;

50 My invention will be bestunderstoodby reierence to the accompanying. drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in a filing drawer using compression guides, in which. Fig. 1 is a vertical, transverse/sectional view 5;; through, a filing drawer equipped withcompression guides, taken along the line l-l in Fig. 4, Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of the guides shown in Fig. 1, this view being taken along the line 2--2 in Fig. 1,

- Fig. 3 is a detail view of a blank of sheet material before it is bent or formed to make one of the supporting 'members or extensions of my guides,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation to a reduced scale, of the filing drawer shown in Fig. 1, and 10 Fig. 5 shows in aview similar 'to Fig. 1 and to an enlarged-scale, one of my guide supporting members or extensions and its relation to the adjacent supporting bar carried by the filing 1 5 drawer.

Similar numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, my invention consists of a filing drawer or container "HLcQntaining guides 11, each of which guides is provided at each end with a supporting member or extension l2 projecting laterally from the end of the guide. The side walls l3, I4 or the drawer are provided at theirupper portions with horizontally disposed channel bars or members i5, l5opening through the inner surfaces ofsaidwalls, to receive lug portions l6, [6 of said extensions [2, 12, projecting from the endsofeach of said guides into said channel bars. I

As moreclearly shown in Fig. 5, each of the 30 channel bars I 5 is provided with a vertical flange ll extending upwardly from the-lower portion-of said bar for engagement ina notch l8 made in the lower edge of the portion'l6 of the extension 12 to receive said channel bar flange and hold .35 said extension in engagement with ,said' channel bar 15. .The extension I2 is so spaced from the inner surface of the bottom of the drawer HJ, that, although the guide may reston thebottom of thedrawer or not as preferred when the guide {40 is in a vertical position, any movement "of the guide to-an inclined position will insure supporting engagement between the channel bar l5 and I the extension 12. i

e As shown in Fig.5, the drawer H1 is made of sheet metal, and the inner thickness ofits side wall I3 is bent outwardly and downwardlyat l8, at an acuteangle with said inner thickness, to pass under and in contact with the similarly inclined bottom wall of the channel bar I5, said inner thickness being bent from the portion 19 to extend vertically and upwardly in contact with the vertical portion of said channel barand then horizontally in contactwith the upper portion of aid channel bar, said inner thickness being then 55.

bent downwardly around the upper edge of said channel bar to form a downwardly extending flange 20 terminating above the extension I2 with only sufiicient clearance to permit the guide II to be moved freely longitudinally of the drawer II] to accommodate any desired distribution of the contents of the drawer. I

Both of the channel bars I5 and each of the extensions I2 on each of the guides II, are constructed as described, as a result of which the upper portions of the guides II are supported by the channel bars I5 in a manner to prevent their sagging for any condition or position of the lower guides receive support of any kind from the bottom of the drawer. It will be noted that the channel bars I5, I5 are supported at the upper es of the side walls I3, I4, thereby insuring that the support of the extensions I2, I2 shall be as far above the bottom edges of the guides I I as the height of the side Walls will permit. It is desirable that the supporting edges of the notches I8 shall be nearer the upper edges of the guides I I, than they are to the lower edges of said guides, to insure giving the upper portions of said guides the support described.

An advantage of supporting the channel bars I5 as described, is that in assembling the parts of the drawer I0 after the inner thicknesses of its side walls have been formed as described, the only operation required to assemble each channel bar is to slide it into the corresponding side wall channel made to receive it, in which position it is securely held against displacement and movement, without other fastening means of any kind, by securing the front and back ends of the drawer to said side walls in any desired manner, for example by welding or riveting.

As thus far described, my invention is applicable to any form of guides, the only requisites being that supporting extensions of the kind described, shall be carried by the ends of the guides, and that the side walls of the drawer or container shall be provided with horizontally disposed bars sufficiently above the bottom of the drawer or container to engage said extensions and support the upper portions of said guides, said extensions being preferably of metal having lower edge notches receiving said bars and holding said extensions in engagement with said bars.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the guides II shown in Fig. 1, may include compression guides, each comprising two walls Ila and Ilb of flexible sheet material and a strip Ilcof sheet material narrower Vertically than the walls Na and III), said strip being interposed between the upper portions of said walls, and the upper portions of walls and said strip being secured together in any suitable manner, for example, by rivets I Id. Expansion means, for example, helico-spiral springs IIeare carried by the guide between its walls Na and II b to expand said walls as far as the contents of the file will permit, thereby exerting compression on said contents tending to maintain the same in vertical position. The guide is preferably provided with a reinforcing tape Hf at its upper edge, and is also preferably provided with a card holder I lg as illustrated in Fig. 1.

With the construction illustrated in Fig. 2, each of the extensions I2 is preferably made of metal and secured to the lower portion of an end of the strip Me, for example, by rivets I2a.

The extensions I2 are preferably made of thin sheet metal of the form illustrated by the blank of one of said extensions shown in Fig. 3, before said blank is formed to complete said extension. As shown in Fig. 3 the blank is of symmetrical form on both sides of a fold line I2b, so that when the blank is folded on said line to press the apertured portions of the blank closely against opposite sides of the portion of a guide to which the supporting extension I2 is secured, the extension fastening devices, for example the rivets I2a, will extend through both apertured portions of the extension and reinforce the guide portion to which the extension is secured. This extension construction also results in the notch porportions of said guides, and whether or not the tion I8 and the lug portion I6 being of double thickness, which reinforces and stilfens the extension l2 and increases the bearing surface at the bottom of the notch I8, as well as giving to the outer end of the lug portion IS, a rounded finish.

In Fig. 4, I illustrate in a schematic view, the draweror container IIJ equipped with a plurality of my guides II, to show the relation of said guides to each other. The drawer or container I0 is preferably provided with an adjustable follower 2| in the usual manner, and the guides II may be further held in place in the drawer or container, by a retaining rod 22 of any known yp While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that I do not limit myself thereto as I may employ equivalents thereof without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

- 1. In a guide partition for vertical files of the drawer type, the combination of two similar walls of flexible sheet material each extending continuously throughout the length and width of the partition, a strip of sheet material narrower vertically than and disposed between said walls with its upper edge substantially in line with the upper edges of said two walls, said strip being substantially half as wide vertically as the vertical width of said two walls, means securing the upper edge portions of said two walls and said strip together, said strip having a length substantiallyequal to the length of each of said two walls, supporting projections on the lower portions of the ends of said strip and extending outwardly beyond the ends of said two walls, said projections having supporting surfaces sufficiently above the middle of said two walls vertically to support the upper portion of said partition, and expansion means between the lower portions of said two walls and below and out of contact with said strip, said expansion means being connected with both of said two walls and tending to separate the lower portions of said two walls from each other and from said strip. 2. In a guide partition for vertical files of the drawer type, the combination of two similar walls of flexible sheet material each extending continuously throughout the length and width of the partition, a strip of sheet material narrower vertically than and disposed between said walls with its upper edge substantially in line with the upper edges of said two walls, said strip being. substantially half as wide vertically as the vertical width of said two walls, means securing the upper edge portions of said two walls and said strip together, said strip having a length substantially equal to the length of each of said two walls, supporting projections on the lower portions of. the ends of said strip. and extending outwardly beyond the ends of said two. walls,

said projectionshaving supporting surfaces sufficiently above the middle of said twowalls vertically'to support the upper portion of said partition, and expansion means between the lower portions of said two walls and below and out of contact with said strip, said expansion means being connected with-both of said two walls and tending to separate the lower portions of said two walls from each-other and-from said strip, said expansion means comprising helico-spiral wire springs.

3. In a guide partition for vertical files of the drawer type, the combination of two similar walls of flexible sheet [material each extending continuously throughout the length and width of the partition,'a strip of sheet material narrower vertically than and disposed between said walls with its upper edge substantially in line with the upper edges of said two walls, said .strip being substantially half as wide vertically as the vertical width of said two walls, means securing the upper edge portions of said two walls and said strip together, said strip having a length substantially equal to the length of each of said two walls, supporting projections on the lower portions of the ends of said strip and extending outwardly beyond the ends of said two walls, said projections having supporting surfaces sufficiently above the middle of said two walls ver-v tically to support the upper portion of said partition, and expansion means between the lower portions of said two walls and below and out of contact with said strip, said expansion means being connected with both of said two walls and tending to separate the lower portions of said two walls from each other and from said strip, said supporting projections comprising sheet metal members secured to the end portions of said strip and having downwardly opening hookshaped portions extending from the ends of said strip.

4. In a guide partition for vertical files of the drawer type, the combination of two similar walls of flexible sheet material each extending continuously throughout the length and width of the partition, a strip of sheet material narrower vertically than anddisposed between said walls with its upper edge substantially in line with the upper edges of said two walls, said strip being substantially half as wide vertically as the vertical width of said two walls, means securing the upper edge portions of said two walls and said strip together, said strip having a length substantially equal to the length of each of said v two walls, supporting projections on the lower portions of the ends of said strip and extending outwardly beyond the ends of said two walls, said projections having supporting surfaces sufficiently above the middle of said two walls vertically to support the upper portions of said partition, and expansion means between the lower portions of said two walls and below and out of contact with said strip, said expansion means being connected with both of said two walls and tending to separate the lower portions of said two walls from each other and from said strip, said two walls being integral and folded'at their upper edges.

5. In a guide partition for vertical files of the drawer type, the combination of two similar walls of flexible sheet material each extending continuously from top to bottom and from end to end of the partition, fiat sheet material between the upper portions of said two walls and substantially in line with the upper edges and ends of "said two walls; means securing the upper edge portions of said two' walls and said fiat sheet material together, said flat "sheet material extending substantially below" said securing means and having a vertical extent equal substantially to half the vertical width of said twowalls, the lower portion of said fiat sheet material beingfree'from said two walls, whereby each of said two walls may move away from the lower portion ofsaid fiat sheet material for expansion of the partition and towards said lower portion for compression of-the'partition, means between and secured to said two walls and below and free from contact with'said fiat sheet material tending to expand the partition, and projections on the lower portions of said end portions of said fiat sheet material and extending outwardly beyond the ends of said two walls, said projections being at a height to support the upper portionof the partition.

6. In a guidepartition for vertical files of the drawer type, the combination of two similar walls of flexible sheet material each extending continuously from top to bottom and from end to end of the partition, fiat sheet material between the upper portions of said two walls and substantially in line with the upper edges and ends of said two walls, means securing the upper edge portions of said two walls and said fiat sheet material together, said flat sheet material extending substantially below said securing means and having a vertical extent equal substantially to half the vertical width of said two walls, the lower portion of said flat sheetv material being free from said two walls, whereby each of said two walls may move away from the lower portion of said fiat sheet material for expansion of the partition and towards said lower portion for compression of the partition,'means between and secured to said two walls and below and free from contact with said fiat sheet material tending to expand the partition, and 'projections on thelower portions of said end portions of said fiat sheet material and extending outwardly beyond the ends of said two walls, said projections-being at a height to support the upper portion of the partition, said expansion means comprising helico-spiral wire springs.

"7. In a guide partition for vertical files of the drawer type, the combination of two similar-walls of flexible sheet material each extending con- I tinuously from top to bottom and from end to end of the partition, flat sheet material between the upper portions of said two walls and substantially in line with the upper edges and ends of said two walls, means securing the upper edge portions of said two walls and said fiat sheet material together, said flat sheet' material extending substantially below said securing means and having av vertical extent equal substantially to half the vertical width'vof said two walls, the lower portion of said fiat sheet material being free from said two walls, whereby" each of said two walls may move awayfrom thelower portion of said flat sheet material for expansion of the partition and towards said lower portion for'compression of the partition, means between and secured to said two walls and below and free from contact with said fiat sheet material tending to expand the partition, and projections on the lower portionsof said end porv tions of said flat sheet material and extending outwardly beyond the ends of said two walls, said projections being at a height to support the upper portion of the partition, said supporting projections comprising sheet metal members secured to said flat sheet material and having downwardly opening hook-shaped portions extending from the ends of said flat sheet material.

8. In a guide partition for vertical files of the drawer type, the combination of two similar walls of flexible sheet material each extending. continuously from top to bottom and from end to end of the partition, fiat sheet material between the upper portions of said two walls and substantially in line with the upper edges and ends of said two walls, means securing the upper edge portions of said two walls and said flat sheet material together, said flat sheet material extending substantially below said securing means and having a vertical extent equal substantially to half the vertical width of said two walls, the lower portion of said flat sheet material being free from said two walls, whereby each of said two walls may move away from the lower portion of said fiat sheet material for expansion of the partition and towards said lower portion for compression of the partition, means between and secured to said two walls and below and free from contact with said fiat sheet material tending to expand the partition, and projections on the lower portions of said end portions of said flat sheet material and extending outwardly beyond the ends of said two walls, said projections being at a height to support the upper portion of the partition, said two walls being integral and folded at their upper edges.

CHARLES B. ULRICH. 

